Child s cradle



(No Model.)

P. E. M DONALD. CHILD'S CRADLE.

Patented May 10, 1887.

HI I

WITNESSES INVENTOR p4dw %%%WM/ Attorney WW E2 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER E. MCDONALD, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CHILDS CRADLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 362,644, dated May 10, 1887.

Application filed November 23. 1886. Serial No. 2l9,677. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER EMQDoNALD, of Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Childrens Cradles; and I declare the In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a cradle provided with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, showing a part of the bed broken away. Fig.3 is a section of one of the extensible sides, and Fig. 4 is a detail View illustrating the engagement of the rocker on the base. I

A A represent the bases upon which the rockers B B are supported. These bases are located at each end of the cradle and may be constructed in any desired manner. The rockers may be engaged thereupon in any proper manner to permit the vibratory motion of the cradle. Any of the customary methods of mounting platform-rockers may suit the purpose of my invention, and are comprehended within its scope. I' prefer, however, to con struct the base with a socket or circular recess, as shown at a, the adjacent rocker being constructed with a corresponding boss or shoulder, b, to permit the ready operation of the rocker and still hold it in proper engagement upon the base and prevent its displacement.

a a represent elastic cushions engaged upon the base, preferably of rubber, the-construction being such as to yield under the movement of the rocker and to assist in throwing the rocker over by the force of its elasticity. The two bases are extensibly connected with each other in any suitable manner--as, forinstance, each may be provided with brace-arms B, the one provided with a tube, 0, and the other with a rod, 0, sleeved therein.

0 is a set-screw to hold the two in any desired adjustment to each other.

E and E represent extensible side pieces or rails. These rails may be made extensible in any suitable manner. As shown, they consist of two-adjacent rails, e and e, dovetailed together, as shown in Fig. 3, the construction being such that the sides of the cradle-bed may be lengthened or shortened to suit their desired purpose.

F represents a flexible bottom for the cradlebed, which may be of canvas or other suitable material At one end this flexible bottom is wound over a reel, G. Said reel may be provided with a ratchet or other fastening mechanism, g, to-hold it in a given position.

The operation of the device will now be seen. By loosening the set-screw c and the fastening device 9 the cradle may be extended, and vice versa, the flexible bottom being wound upon or unwound from the reel, as the case may be. By resetting the set-screw and the fastening device 9 the extensible parts are held in firm relation to each other.

I am aware that cribs and cradles have been provided with extension-platforms and with blocks of india-rubber and like material to soften any noise occasioned by rocking; and I am also aware that bed-bottomshave comprised an extensible frame having side pieces made in two parts coupled together by means of a removable bolt and band, a flexible bed-bottom being supported on a roller at each end of the frame and held in' place thereon by means of cross-pieces and wedges, These, however, I do not claim, and my invention differs therefrom in the particular combinations of devices hereinafter set forth.

What I claim is- 1. The combination of the base-pieces A A, having brace-arms B one of which is provided with a tube, 0, and the other with a rod, 0, fitting into said tube, the set-screw c, for adj ustably connecting said tube and rod, the rockers B B, connected by extensible side pieces, E E, and the extensible bed-bottom F, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the'extensibly-connected base-pieces A A, the rockers B B, the extensible side pieces, E E, each composed of two dovetailed bars, 6 e, and the extensible bed-bottom F, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the extensibly-con nected base-pieces A A, the rockers B B, the

extensible side pieces, E the reel G, a fastening to hold said reel, and the flexible bedbottom F, attached to the reel, substantially as described.

4. A childs cradle composed of the basepieces A A, having central sockets, a, and cushions a a, the rockers B B, provided with pivotal bosses b, the braces 13*, having an extensible connection, the extensible side pieces,

E E, the reel G, having a ratchet-fastening, y, 13 and the flexible bed'bottom F, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

PETER E. MCDONALD. \Vitnesses;

N. S. WRIGHT, M. B. ODOGHERTY. 

